Oskri Organics Corporation of Lake Mills, WI is recalling Oskri Organic Sunflower
Butter Lot # 099, Oskri Tahini Butter LOT # 193 and Thrive Sunflower Butter LOT # 233, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffnes...

Published on: Wed, 19 Dec 2018
EFSA was requested to provide scientific assistance to the European Commission on a detoxification process for dioxins and PCBs from sunflower cake by hexane extraction in an emergency situation, as specified in Article 7 of Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/786. The process entails hexane extraction of sunflower oil from the cake to remove dioxins (PCDDs and PCDFs) as well as DL- and NDL-PCBs. The data provided by the applicant were assessed with respect to the efficacy of ...

Published on: Wed, 19 Dec 2018
Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Cronartium spp. (non‐EU), a well‐defined and distinguishable group of fungal pathogens of the family Cronartiaceae. There are at least 40 species described within the Cronartium genus, of which two are considered native to the EU (C. gentianeum and C. pini) and one has been introduced in the 19th century (C. ribicola) and is now widespread in the EU – these t...

Rochester, NY – Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. has issued a voluntary recall of fresh Cauliflower Rice, Veggie Cauliflower Rice Blend and Stir-Fry Mix with Cauliflower, sold in the produce department between 12/7/18 and 12/18/18, because it may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria (E. Coli O157:H7). E. coli O157:H7 causes a diarrheal illness often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called He...

Adam Bros. Farming, Inc. of Santa Maria, California is recalling red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce and cauliflower harvested on November 27 through 30, 2018 out of an abundance of caution, because it may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria (E. Coli O157:H7).

Inspired Organics, LLC has issued a voluntary recall of Organic Sunflower Butter due to potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages...

Published on: Fri, 30 Nov 2018
The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process RecyPET Hungária (EU register number RECYC0146). The input is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, containing no more than 5% of PET from non‐food applications. The flakes are dried and extruded. The output of the extrusion step is cut into pellets in an underwater...

Published on: Mon, 26 Nov 2018
EFSA is conducting pan‐European dietary exposure and risk assessments related to actual levels of pesticide residues in food commodities. These assessments use the pesticide occurrence data generated under the official monitoring programs of Member States, the consumption data from EFSA's comprehensive food consumption database and pesticide‐specific information such as processing factors. Currently no harmonised list of processing factors is available within Europe and wo...

Published on: Mon, 26 Nov 2018
Abstract In response to the EFSA call New approaches in identifying and characterizing microbial and chemical hazards, the project INNUENDO (https://sites.google.com/site/theinnuendoproject/) aimed to design an analytical platform and standard procedures for the use of whole‐genome sequencing in surveillance and outbreak investigation of food‐borne pathogens. The project firstly attempted to identify existing flaws and needs, and then to provide applicable cross‐sectorial ...

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences today announced the previously communicated global voluntary recall launched in January 2018 related to the FC 500™ Series Flow Cytometers (FC 500), COULTER® EPICS® XL™ and COULTER® EPICS® XL-MCL™ Flow Cytometer with System II Software (together referred to as the EPICS) has been classified as Class 1 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Published on: Mon, 19 Nov 2018
In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant BASF SE submitted two requests to the competent national authority in Germany. The first one, to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRL) for the active substance pyraclostrobin in various crops and to set import tolerances for sugar canes and American persimmons; the second one to set import tolerances for pineapples and passion fruits/maracujas. The data submitted in support of the request...

Published on: Wed, 31 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0100
The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), for the EU. C. nenuphar is a well‐defined species, recognised as a serious pest of stone and pome fruit in the USA and Canada where it also feeds on a range of other hosts including soft fruit (e.g. Ribes,Fragaria) and wild plants (e.g. Crataegus). Adults, which are not good flyers, feed on tender twigs, flower buds and leaves. Femal...

Published on: Wed, 31 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0100
The European Commission requested EFSA to conduct a pest categorisation of Acrobasis pirivorella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a monophagous moth whose larvae exclusively feed on developing buds, flowers, and fruits of cultivated and wild Pyrus spp. A. pirivorella is a species with reliable methods available for identification. A. pirivorellaoccurs in north‐east Asia only, causing significant damage in cultivated pears. It is regulated in the EU by Council Direc...

Published on: Mon, 29 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0100
The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Aleurocanthus spp., a well‐defined insect genus of the whitefly family Aleyrodidae (Arthropoda: Hemiptera). Difficulties within the taxonomy of the genus give doubt about the ability to accurately identify some members to species level. Nevertheless, the genus is thought to currently include about ninety species mainly reported from tropical and subtropical areas. The genus is listed in Council Dir...

Published on: Mon, 08 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0200
The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessment carried out by the competent authority of the rapporteur Member State, Czech Republic, for the pesticide active substance flumioxazin are reported. The European Commission requested EFSA to conduct a peer review and provide its conclusions on whether exposure of humans to flumioxazin can be considered negligible, taking into account the European Commission's draft guidance on th...

Published on: Fri, 21 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0200
The GMO Panel has previously assessed genetically modified (GM) carnation FLO‐40689‐6 and concluded that there is no scientific reason to consider that the import, distribution and retailing in the EU of carnation FLO‐40689‐6 cut flowers for ornamental use will cause any adverse effects on human health or the environment. On 27 October 2017, the European Commission requested EFSA to analyse new nucleic acid sequencing data and updated bioinformatics data for...

Published on: Mon, 27 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0200
The currently applied approaches, procedures and tools used for the identification of emerging risks vary greatly among Member States of the EU. EFSA established a structured approach for emerging risk identification that mainly consists of systematically searching, collecting, collating and analysing information and data. In addition, EFSA concluded that new methodologies and tools are needed to facilitate efficient and transparent sharing of data, knowledg...

Published on: Mon, 27 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0200
The EFSA Panel on Plant Protection Products and their Residues reviewed the guidance on how aged sorption studies for pesticides should be conducted, analysed and used in regulatory assessment. The inclusion of aged sorption is a higher tier in the groundwater leaching assessment. The Panel based its review on a test with three substances taken from a data set provided by the European Crop Protection Association. Particular points of attention were the quali...

Published on: Mon, 27 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0200
In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant BASF SE submitted a request to the competent national authority in France to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRL) for the active substance prohexadione in linseeds, poppy seeds, sunflower seeds, rape seeds, mustard seeds and gold of pleasure seeds. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive MRL proposals for all oilseeds under consid...

Published on: Fri, 10 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0200
This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) deals with the safety evaluation of the recycling process General Plastic (EU register No RECYC153), which is based on the Starlinger Decon technology. The decontamination efficiency of the process was demonstrated by a challenge test. The input of this process is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes orig...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working with Mondelēz International, Inc., Pepperidge Farm Inc. and Flowers Foods, Inc. to initiate voluntarily recalls of certain products due to a potential risk that one of the ingredients may have been contaminated with Salmonella.

As a precautionary measure, Flowers Foods, Inc. (NYSE: FLO) is voluntarily recalling Swiss Rolls sold under the brand names Mrs. Freshley’s, Food Lion, H-E-B, Baker’s Treat, Market Square, and Great Value, distributed nationwide, and Captain John Derst’s Old Fashioned Bread distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, due to the potential presence of Salmonella in an ingredient, whey powder. The ingredient recall was initiated by a third-party whey powder manufacturer and...

May Flower International Inc. of 5672 49th Place, Maspeth, NY, is recalling its 4.4 ounce
packages of “3+2 Soda Crackers” because they may contain undeclared milk allergens.
Consumers who are allergic to milk allergens may run the risk of serious or life threatening allergic reactions if they consume this product.

Abbott is communicating to physicians about a field corrective action related to the HeartMate 3™ Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD). Abbott notified physicians and global regulatory bodies on April 5, 2018, that outflow graft twisting could occur post-implant in the HeartMate 3 LVAD, resulting in a persistent low flow alarm that may signal a potential safety risk to patients, such as low blood flow or clotting.

SAM Medical today announced it is conducting a voluntary international recall of all unused SAM XT Extremity Tourniquets (SAM XT). The company initiated the recall after internal testing indicated a possible failure of the stitches securing the buckle to the nylon belt could occur, posing a
potential risk when used on a human patient to stop arterial blood flow. To date, there have been no reports of adverse health consequences received. This recall is being made with the knowledge of the Food and Drug A...

The class I recall is due to a malfunction in the device’s outflow graft assembly that may cause the outflow graft to twist and close up (occlusion) over time. Occlusion of the outflow graft can reduce or stop pump flow and set off a persistent low flow alarm in the system. A reduction in pump can lead to serious adverse events such as blood clots and death.